8 Months-Julia

Yep...That proverbial clock continues to fly by!

8 MONTHS

Weight: 

Not so sure...around 16pds?

Whats New?

Attempting to crawl

Belly Sleeping 

Clapping Hands

Waving "Bye Bye"

Says "Hi"

Standing almost unsupported

Goes from sitting position to belly

Loves to swing

First fever thanks to Coxsacie

First time on a Bike(Helmets on Babies=awesome)

I mean...Come on those helmets! -Governor's Island, NYC

Hi...Like my helmet?

 A privilege of being a girl mom is matching outfits!

Fuzzy haired baby!

This child and her sleeping positions.

Fighting off that fever. First time being sick! 

Ela 3.5 years

July 12th my first baby turned 31/2 years old.(Yes we celebrate half birthdays). 

I am in awe, more like denial that she is almost 4 years.

So what's happening with my little Ela....

 My 6.11 pound squirt is now almost 35 pounds and just reached over 3 feet! 

She loves to eat! (Just like her mommy) Anything and everything in such a big girl way!

She has pierced ears.

She was a first time flower girl...Took her job very seriously at that!

She is the boy I will never have. Even wearing pink and a big bow, 

she still can find dirt in the cleanest of places.

The imagination she has is amazing. She dreams and thinks of anything.

Nothing will stop this girl from reaching her dreams.

She loves posing for a picture and wants to wear her purse everywhere...just like mom.

Will always be a joker and avoid bed at all costs...

Can make her own fun anywhere...Even in the rain she makes the best of things.

Is hardly shy by any means. She loves being herself

How do you know...

A few times a week, if not a day, I am reminded. It really stood out when we recently traveled to Atlanta for my brother's wedding. Here's how it starts. In the airport, countless people would first give me the look of pity. You know what I am talking about; the look like "Bless your Heart" for traveling with two young children, the look like "I hope I don't get a seat behind you", the look like "Did you really need to pack all of that stuff". Immediately after comes a smile, and then the kicker. "Enjoy them while they are young". They then go back to reading their book or head to the bar kid  free and walk the other direction.

I don't want this post to come off as me being over-sensitive, as 99% of the time the person is being genuine and probably reminiscing back to the young days of their children. Is this just a cliche that every mom of older children feels they have to say? As a mother, I am sure you have heard this phrase countless times over the years. Admittedly it is hard to stop and enjoy your children when your are arm deep in changing diapers, your clothes constantly smell like spit up, you rarely get to eat a meal without an interruption, and 6 hours is considered a great night of sleep. How do you know I am not enjoying them?

There is not a day that goes by that I don't sneak into my daughters room and watch them sleep even though the day was long and I was looking forward to a break. Or on my train ride to work, I sit on my phone and look at their pictures, when I only left them a few minutes prior. Or placing countless kisses through the day on those soft fat cheeks they have. Or letting my oldest sneak in my bed to cuddle when my husband is traveling. Or let my youngest wake up to feed in the middle of the night because she will only be a baby for so long. Or taking a million pictures of them,knowing no one finds them as cute as I could. I often find myself just staring at them thinking "How could I have made something so beautiful".

So the next time you think to say "Enjoy them while they are young", take a second to think twice. Although I might look completely overwhelmed, tired or  covered in spit up I am enjoying EVERY minute of it.

7 Months- Julia

 6 months is a half a year, however 7 months is just a little bit closer to ONE! As nostalgic as I get, Julia is just as happy now as she has been the past 7 months. You can always find her smiling.

We had many new first this month!

*Julia started solids. I am making my baby food and doing a combo of baby lead weaning and purees. She is not a huge fan of food yet, but when she finds something she likes she will let you know.

*Julia is sitting! The first few days she was a little wobbly and now she just wants to see the world. She HATES being on her back now.

*So the no back thing, means first time sleeping on her belly. She only did it once and I wont put her on her belly until she does it herself . Even for a second time mom it is nerve-wracking!

*Julia went to her first wedding! She was passed around to everyone and smiled the whole time.

She looks nothing like him right?! ;)

Not the best family picture but it was a feat to get this!

*First Boat Ride- We technically didn't leave the dock, and it really qualified as a house, but none the less she was on a boat!

*This was a one time thing and we propped her up...BUT her sister walked at 9 months. Wonder if we  are going to have another early walker?

A few other notables:

* She moves her whole arm up and down to wave

*She says "hi"

*Giggles away! All.the.time.

*First time eating cake(courtesy of Ela)

*First tooth- FINALLY! 

Its a strange first. Bottom right canine.

It is really hard to believe that this little black haired, dark eyed newborn is the same blue eyed baby.

The picture on the right cracks me up...She makes some crazy faces with those big eyes.

Conversations with my Toddler- Chapter 5

Every time you see her she is smiling.
She brings so much joy to us every day with her wit,
sass, and good humor. Too.smart.for.her.own.good.

Conversations with my Toddler- Chapter 4

Conversations with My Toddler- Chapter 3

Conversations with My Toddler - Chapter2

Conversations with My Toddler

Walking home from school:
Ela: Can you carry me?(I have Julia in the Bjorn)
Me: Honey I can't I am carrying Julia.
Ela: But your not pregnant anymore, that's not fair.

Ela after getting a skin infection on her leg/bum area laying on the couch.
I am going to have to stay here forever because my bum bum hurts too bad. Maybe I can even eat dinner here.

Ela: I am Doc McEla. Are you under the weather?

Ela: I like Tata, I like Mommy, I like Julia....but I LOVE myself.

Ela: See my baby?
Me: Yes, she is cute.
Ela: She is one year ago old.

Ela: Mom, ask me what I wished.
Me: What do you wish?
Ela: That my boobs made milk too so I can feed my babies.

Ela: I want milk for bed.
Me: Ok, In a few minutes.
Ela: "No butts about it lady"

I wake up to find Ela in my bed....
Me: What are you doing in Mommy's bed? Did you get scared?
Ela: No, I am here because you are my Mommy and I love you.

A few days later...(Toddlers are so moody)
Me: Tata's at work tonight do you want to sleep in my bed and cuddle?
Ela: No thanks. You take up too much space.

Ela and Julia playing
Julia coughs...
Ela: Julia, didn't Mommy teach you to cover your mouth. That's really not nice when I am trying to share with you.

Me: I am so tired today. (I lay down on the couch.)
Ela: Why dont you go to sleep Mom, I wont wake you up and I will watch Julia for you.

Ela: Mom, I need a spoon
Me: What for Ela? You are eating french fries.
Ela: I don't want the french fries, I want to eat the catchup.

After the 5th time of asking Ela to go to bed.
Ela: I just cant because someone left the light on outside.

Ela: Mom what is wrong with Julia?
Me: I dont know why?
Ela: She farts all the time and she smells.

Ela: I cant eat this chicken.
Me: Why?
Ela: It has nuts on it.
Me: No, it does not. And besides you are not allergic to nuts anymore.
Ela: Ok then it has seeds on it. (she still is allergic to sesame)
Me: Nice try Ela.

Ela: Aunt Amanda whats this? (pointing to the mailbox)
You can so tell that she is a city kid!

And the best yet... The girl has my back!
I am feeding Julia and I screamed because she bit me. Ela asked what happened. I tell her. All of a sudden she comes rushing over. "Julia, mommy is my best sweetheart. If you bite her nip-pole again, I will break your teeth and you wont get any more milk." "Do you understand? "

Julia -6 MONTHS!

Julia is such a smiley little bundle of joy. 9 times out of 10 she is grinning at you. The only time she is fussy is when she is hungry(duh, who wouldn't be). By the looks of her chunky self, breastfeeding is still going strong even though we had a few bumps in the road.

Stats:

15 pounds even

25.5 inches long

16 inches head

Whats New?

*Rolling front to back/back to front

*Inching forward, legs half up. I suspect we will have

a crawler by the 7 month update.

*No more swaddle

*Knows her name

* Follows voices around the room

*Grabs/Grasps/Reaches

*"Talks" more and more

*Loving Tummy Time

*We had two "almost" waves. Buh Buh

*Sleeping in the crib

Firsts:

*First real food. Bananas, blueberries, 

carrots and sweet potatoes

She has not had her first Halloween yet...
Poor second kid hand-me-downs!

* Hanging out in a swimming pool

* First taste of an ice-pop. Thanks to big sister! Oops

I turned around and it was in Julia's mouth too! Whoops!

The funniest part of Julia is the way she sleeps. She has always been a good sleeper from the beginning and can literally sleep through anything! Although the crib/no swaddle transition has proved otherwise but we are ready for our good sleeper to come back!